CPC Training And CPC Courses

Those who wish to professionally drive a bus, coach or lorry in the UK are required to have a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC). They are also required to have periodic proficiency testing to maintain their driving qualifications. Both initial and proficiency training is available at cpc uk facilities.

The Driver CPC requirement pertains to the drivers of regular sized coaches, minibuses that have at least nine passenger seats and lorries with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes. It was introduced in the UK in 2008, and as part of the EU Directive 92/26/EC, the previous national cpc standard has been replaced with a single syllabus covering both examination and qualification requirements. The purpose of Driver CPC is to improve the knowledge and skills of prospective professional drivers, with the ultimate goal of improving road safety. Driver CPC courses usually involve both classroom instruction and actual driving, and will cover such areas as fuel efficiency, defensive driving techniques, first aid, rules pertaining to driving hours and the use of tachograph recording devices. Another aspect of Driver CPC is maintaining driver proficiency, which is required for those who already possess a PCV/LGV entitlement and who desire to continue driving professionally.

Driver CPC training courses are comprised of four sections, each of which must be passed. The first half of the first section is in multiple choice format and requires that at least 85 of the 100 questions be answered correctly, while the second half is essentially a hazard perception test that requires correct answers in at least 67 of the 100 questions. The second section is a study of theoretical cases and of actual cases and scenarios, and the third section consists of a practical driving test lasting 90 minutes and involving a variety of road and traffic conditions. The final section is a practical examination that has drivers demonstrating their ability to ensure safety in the handling the vehicle and in dealing with loading safety and security issues. Drivers who pass the entire training program will receive a DCPC qualification card, and will then be subject to a periodic training examination that is 35 hours long and takes place every five years. Periodic training is intended to help drivers in their everyday work by honing their road skills and also to keep them apprised of the latest changes in vehicle codes and regulations.

Driver CPC training courses are available from a number of providers, and enrolment can often be done online. In order to provide a valid certification the Driver CPC courses must be approved by the Driving Standards Agency, while periodic training must meet the standards of the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT).

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence in the United Kingdom (CPC UK) is a standard that all Professional drivers should strive for. Lorry, bus, truck, it doesn't matter, you need that CPC as a badge of achievement, a medal of sorts to prove to your boss, your co drivers and most of all yourself that you can do it, you can be numbered among the best. Sure, it's a challenge. Sure it will take time and effort. But what accomplishment doesn't. It just isn't that hard. It will help you contribute to highway safety and improve your basic road savvy and skills.

The initial qualification for new drivers requires you pass all four parts of the exam; first, a test on driving theory, second, a set of case studies, third, a test of actual driving ability on CPC training courses, and last, a safety demonstration. It is not a free trip as any holder of a CPC can tell you. Assuming you pass you still will need to fulfil certain requirements to maintain your CPC in the UK. You will need to do some additional training including attending required courses and 35 hours of additional training every five years. Whether you drive a bus or lorry or both, your will still need to update your requirements once every five years for both.

On the other hand if you are already a professional driver, you have already acquired certain "rights' on the basis of your driving record to date. There are some conditions in the UK. You may be grandfathered for a CPC in the UK if you are a bus or coach driver and have a class D,D1, D+E, D1+E licence or if you are a lorry driver with a class C,C1, C+E, C1+E licence before September 2009. If you are so fortunate you are deemed to have a CPC in the UK but will still need to keep up the CPC by the same 35 hours of required periodic training already mentioned above.

Once you have passed the CPC courses in the UK you will be issued a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) which is required to drive professionally in the UK and the European Union. Whether you need a DQC/CPC is determined by the type of vehicle and the purpose for which it is used. Exceptions to the need for a CPC in the UK include non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, carrying tools and materials used in your job though driving the vehicle itself cannot be part of your job, vehicle use by the armed forces or other government services and finally emergency use.

So what are you waiting for. Prove your worth, show you can do it, sign up for a CPC course in the UK and get your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) now.

The Driver's Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is a professional certificate for drivers of lorries and buses. It is part of the European Union Directive 2003/59 and administered by the UK Driving Standards Agency. Drivers of certain commercial vehicles must have training and certification to operate a vehicle. Without this CPC UK certification, the lorry driver will be breaking the law if he drives a commercial vehicle.

Length Of Time

Certifying competence can be an intense and the testing involves reviewing case studies and answering questions. The candidate is usually given a set amount of time such as five years to study and obtain this certification. Therefore, the professional CPC training can be completed by spreading out the exams. This will involve doing at least two exams during the first year. These exams can be spread along with the other exams over a three year period. In total 35 hours is required for CPC training and the CPC card is then sent to after successful completion.

However, even though you have five years for the training, it is suggested to not wait until the very last minute to have the training done. It should be noted that anyone driving a coach or a bus will only have until 2013 since the law was created in 2009. If someone drives a LGV, he will have until 2014 to become certified. Therefore, bus or coach drivers will have less than two years to complete their CPC UK training.

There is an initial qualification that experienced drivers can be exempt from. This initial qualification involves four hours of theory training and two hours of practical training. Thus the test to be taken for the initial training involves 2.5 hours of theory and a further 30 minutes of practical testing.

As in the practical test, the examiner will ask the student to complete a series of manoeuvres to test how comfortable he is with handling the vehicle. This is beyond the testing that is completed for the initial driver's license.

CPC Courses

To ensure you have your seven hours per day completed for each CPC training day, it is suggested that you complete the training through CPC training courses. A CPC course will allow you to breakdown the required number of hours and theory into helpful modules. These courses should be taken with an approved training course provider. By ensuring your course and training are at an approved centre, you are able to receive the knowledge necessary to pass and receive your card.

Exemption

Some drivers are exempt from CPC training for a variety of reasons. For example, if you do not carry goods or passengers in your commercial vehicle then this certification is not needed.